hello lovelies ♥ i'm back with a new series where i will be featuring some friends of mine and whatever is on their heart. i believe that we have all been given a voice, and i wish for this to be a place where you feel comfortable and free to be yourselves. that was and still is my hope for simple surrender. now without mumbling on for too long, i am going to introduce my new friend, Christina. Hi! My name is Christina and I’m 14 years old. I have played the piano for about 6 years and my favorite color is pink! I was raised in a Christian home and attended a private school for most of life. When I was younger, I never really understood what “a relationship with God” is. I didn’t go to church too much when I was little because I would get bored, but my dad and grandpa would go every Sunday. (My mom stayed home with me and my younger sister and brother). When I was in fourth grade, I remember asking Jesus into my heart during a chapel service at school. That year, my spiritual life changed! I started going to church every Sunday with my dad and grandpa, and soon, my little sister came along. My younger brother has autism, which is a disability that causes the social aspect of your brain to not function properly. He is not mute, but he can’t have a regular conversation and he can only say a few words. So he stayed home with my mom. After years have passed and I look back at when I was younger, I see that God used my brother’s disability to teach me to pray. Early in my spiritual life, when I would pray, the first thing on my list would be “to pray for my brother’s healing from autism.” As I continued, I started also praising God instead of just asking Him for things. Then, my spiritual life really started to grow positively. From then on, I’ve become a lot closer to God and I am amazed at how He used my brother’s disability to change my life! Thanks for reading my testimony! Christina's Social Media ♥ instagram - @jesus_my.everything blog: jesusmyeverything.weebly.com if any of you feel the call to share your story or have an interest in writing for others,
feel free to email me at: [email protected] and i'd love to see what you have in mind! continue to shine on, beautiful girl. do your best, and give God the rest. He's got this.
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helllooooo spring break (muah ♥) oh man, was i ever ready for you. last month was my 16th birthday and it was quite fun. i celebrated with my close friends, nothing big, which was exactly what i was hoping for. here in bc, canada, when you turn 16, you have the opportunity to take your learners drivers test. i wasn't ready to take it on my birthday, and i still have yet to study for it (oh me...). so now that i have two weeks off, i should start studying! this year, i wanted to make it special and mean something. not just for myself, but spreading small acts of kindness to my community. this idea came to me from my english teacher. she starts every class with looking at our goals for that class. it's such a great way to look at this coming lesson, rather than, "ughhh... it's english, againnnnn." so instead, i see it as a positive! here are 16 goals that i made. i'm hoping to have another post at the beginning of february 2017 with photos of each experience.
i hope you all are taking care of yourselves over spring break. let's try something new for my blog. leave a comment below what your plans are for these upcoming weeks! be sure to stay connected through social media to get updated on my adventures! i love you all.
i was lost, but then you found me. i could not hear you, let alone see;
but you grasped my hand. you have shown me grace. for my whole life i have felt a disgrace; but most importantly, misplaced. "why am i here?" I scream. crying from the top of lungs, i dream for your guidance. in my darkest night, you were the brightest; star in my night sky. showing me mercy, but you see, i never deserved thee. why would a sinner like me, be given a love like this. because before, i was trapped. trying to be myself, but i just felt like a waste of space. travelling the world just to find my place; i grew tired. searching for my purpose, trying to fit in. who knew this life could make me feel so nervous. struggling to keep my head above water on the daily, you pulled me up to save me. the abyss i was in, is no longer an issue. for you have called me daughter. worth far greater than gold, as for your love; it's pure. for once, i feel like i've found a cure, to the sadness i once drowned in you kept me strong and going, just like a conveyor belt. surrounding me with a feeling i've never felt. so now i know; that whatever comes my way, I know i have you. the one who never lets me go astray. even when my skies turn gray, you will call me and say, "hey. today will be a better day." ♥ this past year has been one of the best, but most difficult years in my life. I've learnt that life is a roller coaster. sometimes things may go uphill, and others you may feel like you're crashing into the ground. I thought I'd share a bit of my favourite highlights of this year, and how they impacted me. ♥ illuminate 2015 Illuminate has always held a special place in my heart. Illuminate is a Girls Conference where we get to experience and learn about God and about our worth. Girls in grades 6-12 are invited, and you never get disappointed. ♥ tofino spring break vacation this past march, my family and friends traveled to tofino for a little vacation. we rented out a little house (fisherman style), and it was such a cute place. my sister and i love to go surfing as well. i like to say that we're pretty good (haha)! Easter Sunday Baptisms at Glad Tidings Church i have got to say that this was one of the most important times of my life. the moment i was submerged under the water, (it may sound cliche...) but i felt free. like God washed over me with his cleansing grace. Nazarene Youth Conference a youth conference held every four years in the U.S.A or Canada. it was such a life changing experience gathering with thousands of others with the same beliefs... there is no words that could ever explain how much love was in that space for Christ; you had to be there. ♥ Landers Family Summer Vacation this past summer was one of my most favourite roadtrips of all. we didn't go to any huge attractions, or specifically for a shopping spree; instead i used it for an opportunity to explore the world. if you know me personally, you would know that i absolutely love travelling! i took so many photos and i will never forget this trip. Kidz Camp Counselor this past summer was my second year of being a cabin leader. being a role model to a group of girls is such an amazing feeling, and i love it so much. Daddy's 40th for my dad's 40th birthday, he decided to go paint balling with some of his friends. it was my first time, and i didn't get too many bruises! so thankful to have you, daddy. i love you so much. WE Day Vancouver 2015 we day this year was one of my favourites. being able to hear Colbie Caillat sing, Silken Laumann share her experience of being an olympian, and the band "Her Brothers" share their story about spreading awareness of human trafficking through music. GT Family Christmas Eve Service this was one of my favourite Christmas Eve services i've ever been to. being able to praise God in a room full of lit candles was pure amazing. the beauty of it all could not be captured in this one photo. i am so sorry about my absence.
a lot has been going on in my life and i had to take some time for myself. i'm thinking of you daily, hoping everything is well. if that's just not the case, don't stress. surround yourself with support to help get you through. you're not alone. happy new years ♥ image via "God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. " Romans 5:20 (NLT) today i wanted to talk about how its okay to not have it all together. it's okay to not have to feel the need to wear a mask and show people that you're feeling amazing, when really you feel in the dumps and everything is over your head. its okay! and you know why? well, we have an amazing father who loves us and takes us where we're at and for that, i am extremely grateful. you may have been reading my posts throughout this year and looking at my life (or even my instagram!) and seeing all my life (or anyone, really), and adoring how "perfect" their life may seem from the outside. i know in our generation, people use social media a lot and that's okay! just sometimes, we can forget that there can be other things going on in someone else's life other than everything that they are posting online. for example, one of my closest friends, her parents were going through a separation and i didn't even know. it's so so easy to look at someone and see the positives, and that they have their life together, simply by what we see; but it's only if we really dig deeper and you are willing to listen, and others feel comfortable sharing that we can truly open up and feel "free". free from all the chains we've been attached to, the built up hurt you've been feeling, this fake smile that you have been wearing for days and truly inside, you may feel like you want to cry on someone's shoulder. i went through this long period of my life where i felt alone; like i had messed up greater than anyone could have ever in their lifetime. i felt like i blew it. that no one liked me, and i was misunderstood. i constantly felt this need to "cover up" and be happy for the world, when in reality, i felt so, so broken. it wasn't until i attended this girls conference at a church in my city where i finally felt like i could break free. i felt the need to open up to someone; a leader, and let everything out. and you know what i did? i did just that. with open arms, i acknowledged that i couldn't do this on my own and i asked for help. in that moment, there were so many thoughts and feelings streaming through my body but the thing that was most bold was that, i was loved. that this Father who created me in my mother's womb, loved me for who i was and where i was at. i didn't have to fake this smile and life for Him. instead, i could be honest and true. there's this Savior called, Jesus who died on the cross for all our sins. no matter how great or small they could be.this act was done out of his great love for us. he paid the price for us so we wouldn't have to suffer. in that moment with my youth leader, i re-accepted Christ into my heart and knew that he was there for me. i didn't have to hide anymore. every struggle that we face, when we give it to Him, He meets it with something much greater. the lyrics of this song explain it perfectly: "For every curse, you’re the cure For every sickness, you’re the healer For every storm, you’re the calm For all that’s lost, oh, what a savior On that cross of calvary Every burden has been defeated Every wretched heart redeemed You drown our sins in seas of crimson" -Seas of Crimson, Bethel Music i'm not sure about you, but those words give me this great comfort; one that is so difficult to explain unless you've felt it yourself. there was a time in my life where i felt alone and ashamed to walk into a church, but God calls us to invite anyone in and show them his love. whether its a homeless man at the back of your congregation, the person you don't even know but sits alone at lunch, or that girl who was in your math class last year who asked you for help on a homework question. honestly, it can be anyone. show them His great love, and care for them. "We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters." 1 John 1:16 (NLT) i want to leave you today with a blessing and some words of encouragement. i know that you may be reading this and being unsure of where you are in your faith, or may not even be on this journey with Christ; but i do know one thing and it's this: He will meet you where you are at. to the girl reading this: if you are struggling with self image, friendship issues, mental illness (yourself, or in your family), school learning difficulties, bullying, chronic illness, your parents splitting up, or fights at home. whatever it may be. please know that you are SO SO LOVED by a God who died for you. he'll take you and accept you for where you're at. below is my prayer for you. dear Jesus, i thank you for each and every one of my readers. i know there are some who are going through a really rough patch or even a longer period of their life where they just feel alone and it's so tough. God, i pray you just give them the comfort, peace, and strength to help them get through their situation and guide them through their daily lives. show them your love and provide them with people who care for them. give them someone they can trust. God, you love your children so so much. i thank you for everything. photo creds: @lucyclem10 today is a very special day for me and my fellow fighters out there.
october is mental health awareness month and today is world mental health awareness day. anyone out there who is struggling, i encourage you to ask for help. please know that you are never alone. there are people who want to fight for you and offer support. it was one of the hardest things and most rewarding things i have ever done but without it, i wouldn't be where i am today. i want to thank everyone who has been there for me. all the support and love you have shown me has gotten me so far and i am so thankful. stay strong, darling. you got this ♥ "you are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you." song of songs 4:7 back in middle school, i remember looking in the mirror and feeling absolute disgust as i stared at myself. every single detail i pointed out that i didn't like about my body kept me digging a hole, and i was the one falling into it. i have struggled with body image issues, and self-consciousness for as long as i can remember. today, we are living in a society that tells us we aren't good enough. lies being thrown in our faces, daily, through media telling us in some sort of 'secret code' that we aren't enough. you see it on the covers: "Celebrity Secrets to a Hot Body", "Secrets to Clear Skin that You'll Love!", "8 Fall Makeup Trends You Need to Be Wearing Now!". each one of these lines has power. some, we don't even realize because we've been exposed to it for years. companies telling you to try their 'miracle product' and you will get flawless skin or make your wrinkles disappear. society is sending us a message that we have to fit the mold of 'perfection'. that the person who we really are, isn't good enough. that we aren't already beautiful, kind, caring, and so many more wonderful characteristics but the truth is; we already are. yes, many of these products are great. i myself use beauty products and that is okay! i love my hair. if something happened to it, i'd probably cry. some days, my locks just do not like to cooperate so i may use a bit of product. we just need to know as young women, that it is okay for us to love and feel comfortable about our real selves (and we should!). we were created beautiful by this amazing father who knit you together in your mother's womb. who knew every single detail about you before you were born and loves you with this unconditional love. that father, is God. i woke up this morning with a passion; this idea that i just couldn't let go. it all started with a selfie. my hair a mess, no makeup, and imperfections on my face; i truly felt beautiful and i wanted to capture this moment. i spontaneously wanted to post this photo on Instagram, but i felt there needed to be a deeper impact with more thought put into it. i felt that girls really need to hear that we are truly beautiful from the moment we wake up, to the time when we lay our head on the pillow after a long day. sharing the idea with my close friends, i knew i wanted to make a difference. to encourage you all that it's okay to love yourself. it's okay to go without makeup because you feel confident. we don't have to fit society's expectations. we were all created to be unique! i encourage you to join this movement by posting a picture of your natural, beautiful, self. by this simple action, you are speaking out and telling the world that it's okay to love yourself. we don't need anything to help us feel beautiful because we already are. make sure to hashtag: #thereisnoflawinme and encourage a few friends to do the same. there is no time limit or pressure because this is your choice. also, feel free to scroll through the hashtag and see all the love being spread around. ♥ look for this photo on my Instagram accounts (@simplesurrender , @madisonlanders) for more information. i love you all so much. just like that verse says above, there is no flaw in you. you were created beautiful and full of purpose. every detail, shines full of beauty and love. xoxo,
image viahello friends ♥ it's hard to believe that just two months ago we got out of school and now summer is over. i don't know about you, but i had this huge summer "bucket list" to complete. one of the things i wanted to do was blogging a lot this summer. i actually had many things written on my list, but looking back; there was a lot on my plate which made things seem nearly impossible. i'm not sure if you've seen my posts on instagram (personal: @madisonlanders), but i have been gone almost all of my summer. road trips, youth conferences, wilderness exploring, summer camps, family/friends hangouts, and even the usual camping trip. this past summer has been the best one yet and i'm still in shock that it's quickly come to an end. if you want to hear more about my summer, comment below and i may do a post on it! as this new season approaches us, it's a time of joy and uncertainty for me. autumn is my absolutely favourite season of all time. it means: being able to wear warm sweaters, ankle boots, and staying in to watch netflix while wrapped in fleecy blankets. what makes me more nervous is the fact that school is here. for some, school may be one of your favourite things. meeting new friends, routine, learning, or looking forward to your new fall makeup look. for me, it's always been a nerve-wracking thing for me. attending a school with hundreds of other people, bad past experiences, and so many other things continue to overwhelm me. as september 2015 continues to unravel and reveal itself to me, a lot has been going on. i'm in the middle of a potential school transfer, recovery for my mental health, and life changes. i feel like i am in this time of waiting, and not knowing the answers makes me very anxious. through this time, i am constantly trying to remind myself that God is the author of my life. He has written my story out like a book and bound it together full of purpose. everything that's been put on my plate, has been given to me because i can handle it. i'm not going to lie or sugarcoat things. it is hard to believe in myself sometimes; actually most times. some days i feel helpless; like i don't have enough strength to get through my day, but those are the times when i call on Jesus. I ask him to give me strength, wisdom, and peace. it is listening to worship, reading bible verses, and talking to people i trust that helps me get through. ladies, He is right there waiting for you to call on Him for help. Thursday, September 10th, 2015 is also World Suicide Prevention Day. I am choosing to speak out about this topic because many close friends of mine have been there. mental illness can be very lonely, and with the stigma around it, it just makes things even more difficult to talk about. i encourage you to help break the cycle by simply being there for them and asking how they're doing. you do not need to know all the answers, but by telling them that you care and will be for them, that's a great step. all you need to do is listen to them. be there for when they need a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. show them that someone is there. you all matter so much to me. if you ever need support, don't be afraid to reach out. there are people out there who care deeply about you and your well-being. whether it be through a family member, friend, crisis line, teacher, counselor, or someone you trust. tell them how you're doing. you don't deserve to go through this alone. youth in bc - confidential 24hr crisis line and online chat: youthinbc.com kids help phone - confidential, free phone and online chat: www.kidshelpphone.ca/Teens/home.aspx if you need prayer, i encourage you to fill out my form. you do not need to put any identifying things in the form, simply just a prayer request if you choose. you can access that page here.
you all matter so much to me. i send my love. ♥ in just a few days, my youth group and I will be traveling to Kentucky for 12 days. every four years, Nazarene Youth Conference is held and thousands of youth from all over North America gather together to praise Jesus and serve the community. at the beginning of last September, there was no doubt in my mind that i wanted to attend. you get to leave home for just over a week, no parents, with some of your best friends from camp, road trips, and flying in an airplane. what more could you ask for?! immediately my parents signed me up and boy, was i ever excited. just after a couple weeks of starting my new high school, i noticed my mental health was starting to worry me. things weren't feeling so right and progressively got worse. i didn't exactly know what was going on, only that how i was feeling wasn't quite normal. i was always feeling worried about something, and my self esteem decreased quite a lot. eventually over time, depressed thoughts entered my mind. i felt this way a couple years ago, so i thought it was just something that was normal; like another emotion. looking back, i wish i reached out to someone about how i was feeling. my faith, still to this day is something i struggle with. i started to blame God, questioning why he'd make me go through this. "why me. what have I done to deserve this?" *it may seem like I'm going on a tangent, but trust me. i have a point to this, i promise! explaining things isn't my strength, so bear with me 💕 my anxiety and depression began to take over. daily, anxious thoughts and "what if" statements fill my head which makes me feel overwhelmed. i don't have control in those times, and it's really hard. yesterday, i had a conversation with a good friend of mine (you know who you are! thank you ♥). i was telling them how nervous and scared i felt about going on my trip and that i was in over my head in anxiety. then they asked me, "what thoughts are running through your head?" at that moment, i let it all out. it felt so good to get it out of my system and acknowledge how i was feeling. God works in amazing ways, and in this situation, worked through my friend. they reminded me that He (God) will always be right by my side by changing my "what if statements" into comforting, and reassuring words of TRUTH! this is just a part of what was said to me: "What if God has you in His arms? What if God's never gonna let anything happen to you that you can't handle?" these Godly, real talks with people who matter most to me are my favourite. being honest and not hiding under a mask; i couldn't ask for more. i leave in 3 days. still feeling nervous, but i know that God is right by my side. He's with you wherever you go ♥ i can't wait to tell you all about my trip when i get back home! love you all, and keep sending in your prayer requests! i just started a journal, and i'll be writing them down every night! i encourage you to read: Deuteronomy 31:8 xoxo ♥
image via that's something i've been learning to live by. someone really special to me introduced me to that quote, and it's something that i have explored more in depth every day. having anxiety, depression, and it almost being the end of the year; it can be a very stressful time. things can be overwhelming, and sometimes you feel like you don't have control. in fact, my lovely friend, Sarah, wrote a lovely post about it on her blog! you can read more about it here! ♥ and that is exactly where i was going to start this post. if you knew me, you'd know that i love to plan and organize everything. and yes, i mean everything. being a perfectionist and always trying to have my life in "order", can be very exhausting because nothing will ever fit my standards. trying to handle everything on our own can go okay for a little while, but it may become too much and Jesus can be the answer to that. we weren't created to carry this stress, and that's something i am trying to work through. all we can do is our best. God will take the rest. i'm sure many of you have heard the verse, Jeremiah 29:11. i know it may seem a bit cliché, but it is the truth. i have been digging deeper into this verse and i would like to share some of my thoughts on it. there hasn't been a day where i haven't questioned, "why me. why am i going through this?" with everything that goes on in our daily lives, sometimes all we can see is the negative side. i've just been put on a type of meds that helps balance the chemicals in my brain; to help control my panic attacks and depressive thoughts. it usually takes a good couple of weeks for it to kick in, and playing the waiting game isn't exactly my favourite thing to do. some days i just wish that i could feel better within the snap of my fingers, but that isn't the case. being on meds, it's also an experiment. sometimes they don't work for the individual so you have to try another, and wait again. i've been trying to remind myself everyday that God is in control. his plans are greater, and will be full of joy and reward. in Luke 12:7, it says: "and the very hairs on your head are all numbered. so don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows." wait a second; read it again. darling, you are worth far more than anything in this world. he loves you more than anything. you are his daughter, and you deserve to shine bright. "But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?" Psalm 56:3-4 trust him with everything girls. lay everything down at his feet, and ask for his guidance; then you will have peace. I hope you have all been doing well, and if you ever need prayer, please fill out the form under the heading, "prayer requests". i left an option for it to be anonymous, but if you'd like to stay in touch, just enter your email. i'll always be here for you. i'm praying that this coming week will be new, and full of life for you ♥ lots of love,
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